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4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Model.)

P. D. CUMMINGS. 001m HUSKING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 22.188].

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4'Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N 0 Model.)

P. 1) CUMMINGS.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

No. 249,744. Patented Nbv. 22,1881.

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P. D, CUMMINGS.

001m HUSKINGMAGHINE.

No. 249,744. Patented Nov. 22,1881.

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P. D. CUMMINGS.

001m HUSKING MACHINE.

No. 249,744. Patented Nov. 22,1881.

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4 SheetsSheet 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIE.

PERLEY D. CUMMINGS, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF SIXTY-FIVE ONE- HUNDRED-AND-TWELFTHS TO RICHARD O. UONANT, OF SAME PLACE.

CORN-HUSKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,744, dated November 22, 1881, Application filed June 1, 1881. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERLEY D. CUMMINGS,

residing in Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-- Husking Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to to make and use the same, reference bcinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan. Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the feeding r 5 device and mechanism for removing the butt. Fig. 4 is a top-plan view of same. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the device controlling the action of the feeding mechanism. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the brush 0 and nippers B, and pulleys operating same. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the rollers A A and the nippers B B. Fig. Sis a transverse section of the rollers A A, nippers B B, and brush 0 in operation upon an ear of corn. Fig. 9 is a detail showing the manner in which the rod 9 is pivoted to the roller-frame. Fig. 10 is a detail showing the boX in which the nippers B B are journaled. Fig. 11 is a detail showing the points or studs 1). Fig. 12 is a top plan of the roll- 0 ers and frame.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for husking corn, being especially designed for husking corn in the green state for the purpose of packing.

3 5 It consists of a device for removing the'butt of the ear, a mechanism for removing the husk and silk, afeeding device designed for carrying the ear through the huskin g process, and a device for controlling the action of the feeding 4o device.

The frame of the machine may be of any convenient form, having at its left-hand end the pulley P, to which the power for working the machine is applied. Fixed to this pulley at its right-hand end is a friction-pulley, P, to the right of which is the feed-table V, upon the upper surface of which are ridges 0', parallel with the pulley. (See Fig. 1.) The frictionpulley P is within its periphery provided with toothed gear 4. (See Fig. 3.)

The device for removing the butt consists of the knife J and presser-rod K. (See Fig. 3.) The presser-rod K is supported by rods which pass through brackets or supports secured to the frame, while the downward pressure is 5 5 given to the presser-rod by the springs which surround the supporting-rods. The knife J is fixed upon the shaft a, which is revolved by means of a gear matching the gear 4. on the pulley P.

The mechanism for removing the husks and silks is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and 6 toll, inclusive. It consists of the flanged nippers B B and the brush 0. The flanged nippers B B are shown in transverse sectionin Figs. 6 and 8, and consist of flanges of rubber a a, firmly secured to a shaft or rod having several sides. (See Fig. 8.) Their position relatively to the rollers A A and to each other is also seen in Figs. 6 and 8. Each of these shafts 0r rods is provided at either end with intermatching gear, (see Fig. 2,) and one of them has passing through it the shaft in, from which motion derived from the gear S (see Fig. 3) is imparted to the. others. The journal-boxes of the two inner shafts are fixed, while those of the two outer shafts are movable to a slight degree, an inward pressure being given to the journalboXes by springs. (See Fig. 10.) The shafts have also upon the end near the table V the fixed pulley 5, (see Fig. 11,) upon the exterior of which are the points or studs p, a correspondin g crease, 8, being made in the adjacent and inner pulleys to receive them, Figs. 10 and 11.

The brush 0, as shown in the drawings, consists of two disks, (between which the bristles are secured,) placed horizontally upon the upright shaft, which is rotated by pulley and cross-belt from the shaft Z. (See Fig. 6.) It should be so placed that the bristles may engage the ear of corn just above the innermost of the nippers B B. Some device, however,is necessary to rotate the ears of corn while passin g over the nippers B B, in order that every part of the surface of the ear be presented to the action of the nippers and the brush 0, and at the same time it is essential that the ear be prevented from being thrown from the machine by the action of the nippers. This, among other methods, is accomplished by means of the parallel rollers A A. These rollers are pivoted on a frame,'as shown in Fig. 1, having each upon its shaft, outside the frame, the friction-pulleys I) b, in contact with both of which is the friction-pulleyc. (SeeFig.6.) The frame is suspended over the nippers B B, so that the rollers shall be parallel therewith from the arm U by means of the rod g, which is pivoted to the frame, a stop,f, being placed on the righthand side of the pivot. (See Fig. 9.) A pin or check is inserted into the arm g above the arm U at such a point that the rollers A A may not be brought in contact with the nippers or the arms E, nor press too heavily upon the ears of corn. The downward pressure of the rollers is also lightened by the springs surrounding the rod g. (See Figs. 2 and 6.) The movement of the'frame pivoted to g is limited by the checkf, placed on the right of the pivot a, (see Fig. 9,) and so placed that the righthand end of the rollers hang slightly lower than the left-hand end. (See Figs. 6 and 7.) The rod 6 (see Fig. 6) extends from the shaft of the pulley y to a point near the inmost roller A, where it enters a bifurcated sleeve, 8, moving freely upon it, the bifurcations being pivoted on the frame of the rollers AA at e 0. (See Fig. 12.) The arm ifrom the pulley y to the shaft of the roller 1) is rigid, with the exception of its rotation in the sleeve. As it is pivoted at the center of the pulley y, the rollers A A may be raised without slackening or loosening the belt.

The device for feeding the ears of corn over the nippers B B is seen in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. This consists, first, of the friction-pulley O,with its beveled gear, (see Fig. 3,) the upright shaft 0', having at the lower end bevel-gear wheel intermatching with the bevel-gear wheel on the shaft of the friction-pulley 0, and this shaft is surmounted with the sprocket-wheel L second, of the endless chain D, having at regular intervals the arms E E, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) which should be of such shape as to permit them to pass between the nippers B B and the device above for rotating the corn. (See Fig. 6.) This chain passes around the sprocketwheels L and N, and on the inner side of the machine under a guide, by which it is kept in position.

The mechanism for controlling the feed is seen in Figs. 4 and 5.

G is a plate, pivoted at r to the frame of the machine. It is preferable to place the pivot as low as the lower edge of the pulley Q. An

upward pressure is given to this plate G by the spring 00, Fig. 5. At the left-hand end of the plate G is placed the friction-pulley Q, as seen in Fig. 5, while at the point a a there is attached to it the arm H, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) which is pressed against the plate G by the spring t, and has on its upper edge, and substantially at a point on a line with the knife J, the notch t and incline a, as shown in Fig. 5. The pulley should be so placed that it will always he in contact with the pulley P,but may be slightly raised from contact with the pulley O by movement on the pivot r.

In operation the ears of corn are placed in large numbers upon the table V at right angles with the ridges of the table, and so that the knife may remove the butt without injuring the kernels. As the ears are pushed along they pass under the prcsscr-rod K, by which they are held while the knife removes the butt. As the foremost ear is pressed forward by the ears behind, it is brought in contact with the arm H at w, and by its pressure forces the arm H outward until the projection at 11 passes under the notch at 2 on the under side of the arm E. The arm E is thus released, while the plate G is forced upward by the spring or, bringing the pulley Q in contact with the pulley O. The feeding mechanism is thus set in motion, and the earof corn is carried through the guide T under the rollers A A, which rotate the ear. As the ear is thus rotated the husk is first torn by the points or studs p, and the husks, being thus loosened, are then caught between the flanges of nippers and drawn downward, while the brush 0 removes the silks which adhere to the ear. The arm E, after carrying the ear through this operation, discharges it from the other end of the machine into any suitable receptacle. Thenextearpassingoverthetable releases the next arm E, which has received a momentary check from the arm H, and is carried on like the first. The period of time during which the ear is subjected to the action of the flanged nippers and brush is thus controlled by the greater or less rapidity with which the ears are fed in over the table V.

The nippers B B are prevented from clogging by means of the movable journal-boxes, which permit the nippers B B to open sufficiently to permit the husks to pass through.

The manner in which the frame holding the rollers A A is hung enables the rollers to adjust themselves to the various sized ears of corn, and to tip slightly to the left when the butt of the ear passes under them.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the table V, formed with parallel ridges, the presser-rod K, and rotating knife J, all as described, for the purposesfset forth.

2. In a machine for husking corn, the combination of the flanged nippers B and B, consisting of shafts having sides of equal number and Width, to each of which sides is attached a flange of rubber in the manner shown.

3. The combination of the flanged nippers B B and a device for rotating the ear of corn, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a device for rotating the ear of corn, and the rotating brush (J, for operatin g on the ear, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of the studs 1), flanged nippers B B, and a device for rotating the ear of corn, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the plate G, pivot r,

spring :0, arm H, having the notch 4), spring t, spring n, arm U, and pivoted rod i,Wltll sleeve,

and friction pulley Q, vsubstantially as deas and for the purposes set forth.

scribed, for the purposes set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 7. The combination of the arm U, spring h, my own invention I have affixed my signature 5 and stopped. rod g, rollers AA, friction-pulleys in the presence of two witnesses.

I) b c in a suitable frame or carriage, having the T rollers A A, pulleys y y y, and belt j, as and PERU CUMMINGS -for the purposes described. Witnesses:

8. The combination, with a frame having GEORGE F. THURSTON, 10 the rollers A A and pulleys I) I) c, of the rod 9, GEORGE S. PAYSON. 

